Former USC Standout Jackson Couldn't Ask For A Better Mentor

Lawrence Jackson joins a Seattle Seahawks team that was fourth in sacks with 45 last year.

The majority of those sacks came from defensive end Patrick Kerney, who led the NFC with 14 and a half. Jackson has the opportunity to learn from a guy who's motor runs 24/7.

Jackson, a four-year starter at USC, is physically fit to become a fearsome defensive end for the Seahawks. He's a 6' 5", 270 lbs. specimen who led the Trojans in sacks with 10.5 last season.

Kerney stormed through the second half of the season, after warranting just 3.5 sacks throughout the first half. He then posted three 3 sack games, finishing with enough sacks to be ranked second in the league.

Imagine the impact he can make on Jackson's career.

With Kerney's help, Jackson can beat Darryl Tapp for the starting spot opposite Kerney. Kerney isn't Michael Strahan, but he is one of the veteran defensive ends. Last I checked, Strahan mentored a young defensive end named Osi Umenyiora. Umenyiora has averaged 8 sacks a year, with his rookie year in mind, in which he only started 1 game.

One cannot deny that Strahan's influence on Umenyiora has added to the latter's success.

With Kerney's help, Tapp had 7 sacks last season, an improvement over his rookie campaign. This shows the kind of impact Kerney can make on a player. Perhaps a possible defensive rookie of the year candidate lies in the Pacific Northwest.